Can a child enter more than one OSN field?

No. The official rule sets that one student may only represent one field in a single selection year. That makes focusing on one right field far more effective than splitting energy.

What if my child has good grades in many subjects?

Good grades across many fields is an advantage, but the decision must still land on one field. Use genuine interest as the primary determinant: which field does the child study happily without being told.

Is choosing a quiet field a legitimate strategy?

Absolutely legitimate. Choosing Earth Science, Astronomy, or Geography with fewer participants is a smart strategy, as long as the child is genuinely interested and prepares seriously. Many national medalists emerge from these fields.

When is the best time to set the OSN field?

Ideally early in grade 10, or even at the end of junior high for a child showing strong interest. The OSN journey is tiered, and each tier demands material far above the school curriculum.

How to Choose the Right OSN Field for Your Child | EduPoint

Choosing the right OSN field means matching your child's genuine interest with their academic strengths, then weighing competition odds and available preparation time. The right decision early on saves months of wasted effort.

OSN at the high school level has 9 fields with different characters and competition
Genuine interest predicts success better than report card grades alone
Ideally the field is set 1.5 years before the first selection round

What You Need

Sample OSN problems from 2 to 3 fields that interest your child
A summary of your child's report card grades over recent semesters
The official OSN syllabus from the National Achievement Center

5 Steps to Choose an OSN Field

Run these five steps in order. Do not jump to the final decision step before the three exploration steps are complete.

Understand the character of the 9 OSN fields

Before choosing, your child needs to know what is actually competed in each field. Mathematics demands abstract reasoning, Physics blends concepts with advanced mathematics, Informatics focuses on algorithms and programming. Have your child read each field description and, if possible, watch recordings of problems or solutions from previous OSN years.

Tips

Use the 9-field profile cards below as discussion material
Avoid filtering fields based only on a name that sounds impressive

Map your child's genuine interest, not just grades

Genuine interest shows in what a child studies without being told. What topic makes them ask further questions? Which subject do they work on happily even when it is hard? OSN demands hundreds of hours of independent practice, and only genuine interest keeps motivation to the finish line.

Tips

Ask your child: which subject do you study even with no homework?
Notice which books or videos they seek out themselves in free time

Do not equate high report card grades with interest. A child can be good at Chemistry from diligence, while their heart is in Informatics.

Assess actual academic strength

Once interest is mapped, check whether the academic foundation supports it. Look at grade consistency in the field's core subjects over several semesters, not one momentary peak. Have your child work on sample OSN problems from two or three candidate fields to feel which challenges them enjoyably, not the one causing total frustration.

Tips

Consistency over several semesters means more than one peak grade
Sample problems are the best reality test before committing

Evaluate competition odds and school resources

Each field has a different competition level. Mathematics and Physics usually have the most participants and are the fiercest. Fields like Earth Science, Astronomy, and Geography tend to have fewer participants, so the odds of advancing to the national level are statistically greater for serious candidates. Also consider whether the school has a coach or tradition in that field, since mentor access is invaluable.

Tips

A field with few participants can be strategic, not a shortcut
Ask the school: which field has an active coach?

Match the timeline, decide, and start

Match ambition with a realistic calendar. Informatics requires mastering programming from scratch if the child has never coded, so it needs more time. After weighing all factors, set one field, download its official syllabus as a study map, and build a consistent weekly practice routine. A small but consistent first step beats a grand plan that is delayed.

Tips

Set the field early in grade 10, do not wait until grade 11
The official OSN syllabus is your study map, not the school curriculum

Field	Participants	Problem Character	Strategic Note
Mathematics	Very many	Abstract, creative	Needs strong talent and intensive practice
Physics	Many	Concepts + calculation	Suits conceptual thinkers
Informatics	Medium, rising	Algorithmic logic	Good odds if the child enjoys coding
Astronomy	Few	Cross-disciplinary	A strategic path for the serious
Earth Science	Few	Applied, structured recall	More measured competition
Geography	Few	Spatial analysis	Often overlooked, opportunity open

How to Choose the Right OSN Field for Your Child

Need Help with OSN Preparation?

OSN in Numbers

Why Field Selection Is So Decisive

5 Steps to Choose an OSN Field

Understand the character of the 9 OSN fields

Map your child's genuine interest, not just grades

Assess actual academic strength

Evaluate competition odds and school resources

Match the timeline, decide, and start

The 9 OSN High School Fields at a Glance

Mathematics

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Informatics

Astronomy

Economics

Earth Science

Geography

Competition Level and Strategic Opportunity

Popular Fields vs Quiet Fields

Checklist Before Setting the Field

Common Questions About Choosing an OSN Field

Sources & References